Thoughts, reflections, views and news from the Chief Executive

Month: September 2017

A big thank you to everyone who has attended one of the sessions so far. There’s been 9 to date with 15 more at the Town House and 4 at Frederick Street to come. More are being booked to run through the October holidays and beyond.

So far over 1000 colleagues have attended or have booked to attend a future session, there’s plenty of space for more! The events offer a real opportunity to give thoughts, ideas and opinions on the Council’s future structure and how we can best organise ourselves to deliver with a focus on the customer. I urge everyone to come along and share their views.

A note of thanks too to those colleagues who have so far played a part in delivering the sessions and indeed in taking their own teams through the details in their own meetings.

There’s plenty of other ways for staff to get involved in the Council’s Transformation activities – check out the Transformation Hub on the Zone.

The awards are well deserved and testament to all the hard work the team and our many (ever growing) community partners put in, not just to the campaign but to everything they do that goes towards making Aberdeen the amazing place it is. Everyone involved should be very proud of what they’ve achieved. Roll on Britain in Bloom, Champion of Champions!

A huge welcome to the many delegates in the City this week for Offshore Europe at AECC.

What I’m sure will be a hugely successful week is the culmination of many months of work by many colleagues within the Council working closely with partners and other agencies both to bring the event to Aberdeen and to show off the City to our visitors.

As we move into a new month, a brief moment to reflect on the loss of two well-regarded colleagues who will be sorely missed by all those who knew them at the Council.

Stuart Kay and David Laming both worked within Communities, Housing and Infrastructure and sadly both passed away last month, Stuart after having been taken ill and David in a tragic accident.

Everything I’ve been told about both men speaks of individuals committed to using their considerable skills for the benefit of the people they came into contact with as they went about their work for the Council, Stuart in buildings inspection and David in energy assessment.

In addition both led rich and fulfilling lives outwith their working day and it is clear that while both will be a huge loss to friends and family, both will have left many fond memories. I’m sure I can speak for all in the Council in extending my sympathies to their loved ones.

Meanwhile, other colleagues, other friends and another family continue to face the concern triggered by the disappearance of Nusrat Jahan who has been missing now for over a month. I can only imagine how difficult a situation this must be for all affected.